New Hire Spotlight: meet Melissa Wood
Published on Thursday, December 19, 2024
What is your name and new job title?
Melissa Wood, lifestyle medicine nurse practitioner
What does your new job involve?
Primarily, I will be involved in our new Lifestyle Medicine Cancer Care program. LMC2 provides guidance with lifestyle changes for those with a previous or current diagnosis of cancer. The goal of the program is to help manage side effects and improve quality of life and physical functioning during cancer treatment as well as reduce risk of cancer recurrence and prevent other chronic diseases following treatment.
What skills are you most excited to bring to your role here?
Bringing lifestyle medicine to a new population of patients is always exciting. Much of my career has focused more on traditional treatments such as medications and procedures while squeezing in some lifestyle advice where I can. For lifestyle medicine to be my primary role here is so exciting.
Another skill I have to mention is my certification as a yoga teacher. I completed my certification in 2019 and have found so many benefits both personally and professionally. Yoga can be a great tool for patients to improve stress, mobility, strength, etc. I am starting classes for patients in January.
What’s an achievement you are proud of?
Completing my certification in lifestyle medicine in 2020 really put me on a path to do what I always wanted to do with my career. I think being able to address nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, etc. can change outcomes for patients in a way that wasn’t routinely taught in school more than a decade ago. Learning these skills so far into my career was challenging, but it was also the missing puzzle piece in what traditional care was lacking.
Can you share a bit about your previous work experience and what you enjoyed most?
I have been a nurse practitioner for over 15 years. I’ve worked in a variety of both inpatient and outpatient settings. I have always enjoyed educating patients in any way I can. Giving patients knowledge gives them power to take an active role in their health.
What is your favorite karaoke song?
I have never done karaoke (and please don’t make me lol)!
What’s your favorite movie or television show and why do you love it?
I don’t watch much TV, but if my kids have a Disney movie on, I’ll find myself watching and singing along. Beauty and the Beast, Moana, the Greatest Showman are a few favorites. They keep me young at heart!
What is a unique talent you have that most people do not know about?
I can’t think of anything super unique, but I did run a couple marathons and a handful of half marathons. I’m not sure if that’s talent or just a hard-earned achievement!
If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Iceland
What is your favorite hobby?
Reading, travel, running
What is your favorite movie or book and why do you love it?
It’s hard to pick just one book, but my favorite genre is fantasy (think Throne of Glass series as an example). I love books that take you to a completely different place and time. It’s a great way to escape without going anywhere!